Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1887-07-01
Given TO Hospitality
BY cATHAR1NE LENT sTEvENsoN.i

my wife, sir. She's a1toays ready to
receive visitors I made it my one
rule when we began housekeeping.
Said !, Helen, we may not have the
finest kind Of cookery on our table, but
there one thing must always be there,
a knife aud fork for the stranger that
Is within our gates. We've follow
ed that rule almost to the letter for
almost fifteen years, and les wonder
full how The Lord honors the cheerful
giver; there pretty generally is a stran-
ger within or gates, while our neigh
bors''- u. H.
I should think there might be, inter
rupted Deacon Grant companion,
with an amused smile, IF you hail
him on the road mile from your
home, and force him back with you in
spite of himself; on wasi-day, too, .
he continued, apologetically, as, emerg-
ing from the stable door, he saw tall,
slender woman coming around the
corner OF the house with basket piled
high with newly washed-clothes.
Z "Wash-dayp Well what if it isp
Folks eat on wash-day, don't they?
Helen!'''.-a thay approached the
clothes-line-''this is Dr.. BrowneN, the
young man who Is going to put up his
sign in our village. WAS lucky enough
to meet him on the ROAD Just now, so |
brought him back to dinner. Near
ready, amt it?'' i
Every nearly, james. How do you
do. sir? The clothesryard is hardly
the place for formal introduction, but
all times and seasons are alike to my
husband;" and the SIN lie which lighted
Mrs. Grants once beautiful, but now
sadly worn face. had in it /: tin"e of
bitterness which did not escape tn doc
tors watchful eye. -.
Poor woman!' he murmurc,l to
himself; cts just as her aunt told me-;
she's daily immolation on the alter of
hospitality"
'Of course they are" said the dea-
ron, all Unconscious of this by-play of
thought; 'whcre'sa the difference, in
times and seasons? If mans ready
to, receive his friends on Thursday :f-
!ernoon, why shoultl't be be ready on
Monday morning? A friends friend,
and days Il day. Idon't see that it
matters much w hat name YOU call it.
But come into the house, doctor, youth
melt in this bro;ling sum- and the dea-
con lead the wav, through the vine
covered porch. into the cool sitting
ROOM.
The doctor sank into the easy chair
protfered him w tn q sigh of relief. It
was such change from the glare out
side--this dainty room. with its screened
windows, it's floor covered WITH cool
mating, it's vases Of del c.to flowers.
Isn't it del .cious?" he exclaimed.
''Yes,' said The deacon, this is
what Leah comfort. Excuse ME if take
off my coat ? After q hot days work,
TO come in anal stretch yourself on this
lounge for an hour is something worth
while, and | enjoy 1t tw.ce as much if
there is somebody with me-
An opening door just then let in the
rattle of dishes from IN adjoining
room, aud the doctor found himself
wondering how many hours day Mr..
Grant took to enjoy the GOODNESS but
he only said, "you are II very hos
pitable man, Deacon Grant"
'Well!' said the deacon. with the
air OF a man who. though not uncon-
cious OF his merits, could yet be hum
bic i'll that consciousness I've al
ways considered hospitality one of the
cardinal virtues in fact, may say the
cardinal one. What greater conde,n-
nation could the Master pronounce
than 1 was stranger, and ye took me
not in - Eve tried to live with that
passage before me for the past fifteen
years, and can assure you that no
one was ever turned empty from ma
door. Why, I've had dozens of poor
fellows stop here months at time when
they have been looking for work. 1
don say it boastingly, but you can ask
Deacon Grants reputation anywhere
about here. and you'll be told that L nj
given to hospitality
'Yousmust be peculiarly fortunate in
securing servants,' said the Young
doctor quietly, :'or else the strain of 50
much generosity would come very
heavily upon your wife -.
''Well, no. said the deacon uneasilv,
''t>s pretty hard work. to get good
help, that's fact, especially us | can't
afford to pay fancy prices. We have
ouly nung girl this summer. but an
old aunt"f mine is living here, who is
as spry a. a cricket, and helps about a
good deal. Then we have no children.
and woman $ work is nothing anyhow
IL think your " fe looks far from
we'll, and rs if sI',: were working much
beyond her strength" said the doctor
in his most assured professional tone.
who? Helen?: Oh, no, she always
looks that way, and she's perfectly
well. Inever heard her complain in
the fifteen years we've lived together"
y But the thought evidentl ~ troubled
the good deacon. for. :.tter !, few irrel-
evant remarks, he excused himself. and
The doctor heard his voice Il moment
later: us there anything l can do +:
help ! on women folks?'
r mo, nothing was The, sharp reply;
"houseWork amt a mans business.
But | don't wonder you ask. Jeems; it
duz seem as Il dinner wouldn't be dun
to-day. i Helen kin take the longest
slime an do the least of any woman
| know. Why, when I was her age - -.
just what happend at that remote
period the doctor never learned, for
at that moment he heard Mrs. Grants
voice: .' Y OH may call your friend to
dinner, James. ''l5.5 1T. s.5
Dr.. Brownell did not need that dim